Uh oh…I forgot I had an appointment…

It was exactly 3:15 when I remembered. The problem was that the appointment was 45 minutes earlier, at 2:30 pm.

And I had forgotten all about it.

It was a double well visit.

I had been determined to get well visits for all the kids done before school started, and I had missed the first two.

I was mortified. Embarrased. Annoyed.

And with no other choice, I called the Doctor’s office to admit my shortcomings; I was not supermom after all. I forgot the appointments.

“Hi, I had a 2:30 double appointment and I have a feeling I missed it…”

Before she could reprimand me, I tried to save myself some grace.

“I’m mortified. I’m so embarrassed this happened to me. I can’t believe I forgot. I have it in big letters on my calendar, I remembered this morning. I don’t know what happened…”

But the truth is, I do know what happened.

I’m running mommy camp! I want to say

All the kids are home ALL day.

And it’s 106 degrees outside.

And I’m in my ninth month.

And I had 7 appointments this month that I DID remember.

Doesn’t that count??

And I’m nesting.

And I have lists and lists of closets and drawers to organize and I haven’t gotten to a single one!

And…my house cleaner is away for the week. THE WHOLE WEEK!!

And I’m still making 3 meals and 17 snacks EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

Doesn’t that count? Shouldn’t I be excused?

But of course, I don’t think she’s interested in hearing my life story and I don’t think it’ll help.

“You missed two appointments. Barbara will call you on Monday,” she says sternly.

And I tell her the truth about how I feel. “I feel like I’m being sent to the principal. I’m so sorry about this. Please tell me what I should do.”

The more profusely I apologize, the softer her tone is slowly getting.

What’s the worse that can happen? I think to myself.

They’ll pin a picture of me on the bulletin board under “Worst Mom of the Year”?

They’ll kick me out of the practice? I don’t think the doctor wants to lose 7 patients at once.

“I’m just so sorry, I don’t know how it happened…well maybe I do,” I can’t resist adding. I do want some sympathy, after all. ” I’m in my ninth month, perhaps I’ve finally lost the last bit of non-scatterbrainedness that I had left…”

There’s a fine I have to pay for missing the appointment.

It’s not fair! I want to shout, similar to how my kids say it when they lose computer time.

You don’t understand, I was never late to school in my life! Not in elementary school, not in high school! It’s only since I became a mother that I’ve started being late or missing appointments!

Don’t judge me! It’s because I have kids! It’s not my fault!

But then I remember that I’m the mother and I must act like an adult.

We reschedule the appointments and I set up a dozen or so reminders to make sure I don’t miss it. It’s tomorrow. Perhaps I’ll bring a plate of cookies just to soothe my broken ego, But I can’t fight reality.

It doesn’t matter how punctual I was in high school, having kids changes it all. I’m ok with it, really, I just wish everyone else was too.